Ever notice how some Christians pick and choose when to trust science? When science contradicts their beliefs, it’s dismissed as lies, but when it seems to back them up, suddenly, science is proof of God’s genius. It’s like breaking up with someone but still using their Netflix password—you don’t really believe in them, but you’ll take what benefits you.

Evolution? “Fake News.” But DNA? “God’s Handiwork!”

Many Christians reject evolution outright. “We didn’t come from monkeys!” they’ll argue, completely misrepresenting the theory. Never mind the mountains of evidence, from fossil records to genetic research, that show how species change over time (National Center for Biotechnology Information, n.d.).

But bring up DNA—the incredible molecule that carries genetic instructions—and suddenly, science is on their side. “Look at the complexity of DNA! This is proof of intelligent design!” they’ll say. But DNA is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for evolution, showing how species are connected through common ancestry (Khan Academy, n.d.). So…science is wrong about evolution but right about DNA? You can’t have it both ways.

Big Bang? “Ridiculous.” Fine-Tuning? “Proof of God!”

The Big Bang theory has a ton of scientific backing, from cosmic background radiation to the expansion of the universe (NASA Science, n.d.). But many Christians dismiss it: “Something can’t come from nothing!”

Yet, when they talk about how the universe is “finely tuned” for life, suddenly they’re all about physics. “The Earth is the perfect distance from the sun! The laws of physics are just right for us to exist! This can’t be random!” they claim. But hold on—didn’t they just say science was unreliable? And isn’t it a little egocentric to think the entire universe was designed just for humans when most of it would kill us instantly?

Miracles Over Medicine… Until They Need Medicine

Some Christians insist that prayer heals more than doctors. “Trust in God, not in man-made medicine!” they say—until they actually get sick. Then it’s off to the hospital, trusting very much in modern science to keep them alive. If they recover, God gets the credit. If they don’t, “It was His plan.” Convenient, right?

But scientific studies show that prayer has no measurable effect on healing beyond the placebo effect (National Center for Biotechnology Information, n.d.). Meanwhile, medicine—based on research, testing, and actual results—saves lives every day.

Cherry-Picking Science to Fit the Narrative

This all comes down to cherry-picking. If science supports their beliefs, it’s ‘proof of God.’ If it contradicts them, it’s a lie. But science doesn’t work like that. It follows evidence wherever it leads, whether we like the results or not.

If Christians want to embrace science, great! But they should take all of it—not just the parts that fit their worldview. Because the truth doesn’t change just because it’s inconvenient.

Sources

National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). Evidence Supporting Biological Evolution. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK230201/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Khan Academy. (n.d.). Evidence for evolution. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/her/evolution-and-natural-selection/a/lines-of-evidence-for-evolution?utm_source=chatgpt.com

NASA Science. (n.d.). The Big Bang. Retrieved from https://science.nasa.gov/universe/the-big-bang/?utm_source=chatgpt.com